Adobe illustrator is the industry’s leading vector graphics editor. It is a full feature drawling program that is available on both windows and Macintosh operating systems. Illustrator allows the user to use tracing and text features to create images. The first operating illustrator was creates in 1987 for MAC users, and continued to be exclusive to them until version 7.0 where [[#|windows]] was given illustrator compatibility.
The Layer feature of Adobe Illustrator allows the user to choose the order in which each shape they create appears. If you want the pink square to be the first layer shown you drag that path to the top of the Layer 1 list. Or if the designer wants the yellow square behind all the other shapes, that path should be dragged to the bottom of the list.
Swatches
In Illustrator, Swatches is a pre-set color selecting option. This feature has popular shades of each color readily available to the designer for easy access. This is different from the color feature (shown as the tab to the left of swatches) because with color you would pick a shade and then could lighten or darken it to your preference. Most users like Swatches because it makes color cohesion throughout the piece very simple to accomplish.
Stroke
Stroke refers to the width of the outer line of all shapes and the single line when the designers use either the line segment or paintbrush tool. This allows users to control the size and color of the outer rim of shapes and lines. The “Uniform” option is the shape of the line and the “Basic” pull down menu allows users to choose a fancy design for the outer shape or line.
Transparency
After designing a shape the Transparency [[#|application]] allows the designer to make that shape “see-through”. Opacity ranges from 0% to 100%. The higher the percent of opacity, the darker the shade of that selected shape. This is a great tool if the user wants to place shapes on top of each other but still wants the underlying shape to be seen.
Gradient
The Gradient feature can most easily be explained as a design tool. When the designer choses to [[#|apply]] a gradient to their shape, it creates a faded effect that continues from one end of the shape to the other. As shown in the screen shot, the gradient starts at the left as light and continues to the right as dark. The direction, color, and intervals can all be changed according to the designers preference.
Flash and SVG output, pixel preview, release to layers, drop shadows, transparency,
feathering, opacity and layer mask, native [[#|PDF]] support
10
live pathfinder shapes, symbols, slicing, css layer support, ODBC, data link, variables
palette, save for web, live distortion, warping [[#|envelopes]]
CS (11)
3D effect, OpenType support, character & paragraph styles, template file format, scribble
effect, columns & rows, optical kerning, optical margins, every-line composer, custom tab
leaders, WYSIWYG font menu, Japanese type support, path type option, save for Micro-
soft Office
CS2 (12,12.0.1)
live trace, live paint, colorized grayscale, Photoshop layer support, expanded stroke options,
control palette, Adobe Bridge support, Wacom tablet support, SVG-t export, PDF/X export
multiple artboards, transparency in gradients, blob brush, live gradient editing, separations
previews, in-palette appearance editing
CS5 (15, 15.0.1
15.0.2)
perspective drawing tools, variable-width strokes, control over opacity in points on gradient
meshes, shape builder tool, bristle brush
CS6 (16)
Adobe Mercury Performance System, 64-bit memory support, new user interface, gradient
on a stroke, pattern creator tool, Image Trace
Web Resources:
Illustrator trial download here 12 beginner tutorials for Illustrator here 20 tips for Illustrator here New update for retina display products here The history of Illustrator here
Terminology:
Terms
Definitions
Artboard
Work area where illustrations can be finished.
Bitmap Images
Images created using a grid of small squares called pixels. Also called raster images or pixel images.
Brush Library
A collection of brushes related to a particular theme or type of brush that you can add to the default Brushes panel.
Color Mode
Determines the color model used to display and print the Illustrator file.
Constrain
To manipulate an object to take a certain form.
Dock
A location in the application window where a panel or panels are secured so they do not float.
Layer
A single level in the stacking order that can hold any number of objects.
Outline view
Shows the skeleton of your work lines and curves.
Scaling
To change the size of an object horizontally, vertically, or proportionally in both directions to a percentage of its original size.
Sublayer
A layer within a layer that can have its own name and its own settings.
Thumbnail
A small illustration in a dialog box or panel displayed to help you choose an option.
Transform tools
Scale rotate and reflect tools are the fundamental.
Tools panel
Contains tools that let you create, select, and manipulate objects.
Topic:
Adobe Illustrator
Description
Adobe illustrator is the industry’s leading vector graphics editor. It is a full feature drawling program that is available on both windows and Macintosh operating systems. Illustrator allows the user to use tracing and text features to create images. The first operating illustrator was creates in 1987 for MAC users, and continued to be exclusive to them until version 7.0 where [[#|windows]] was given illustrator compatibility.
http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html#nerolimedia_split_il-overview_708x398-1300.mp4
Applications:
Layers
The Layer feature of Adobe Illustrator allows the user to choose the order in which each shape they create appears. If you want the pink square to be the first layer shown you drag that path to the top of the Layer 1 list. Or if the designer wants the yellow square behind all the other shapes, that path should be dragged to the bottom of the list.
Swatches
In Illustrator, Swatches is a pre-set color selecting option. This feature has popular shades of each color readily available to the designer for easy access. This is different from the color feature (shown as the tab to the left of swatches) because with color you would pick a shade and then could lighten or darken it to your preference. Most users like Swatches because it makes color cohesion throughout the piece very simple to accomplish.
Stroke
Stroke refers to the width of the outer line of all shapes and the single line when the designers use either the line segment or paintbrush tool. This allows users to control the size and color of the outer rim of shapes and lines. The “Uniform” option is the shape of the line and the “Basic” pull down menu allows users to choose a fancy design for the outer shape or line.
Transparency
After designing a shape the Transparency [[#|application]] allows the designer to make that shape “see-through”. Opacity ranges from 0% to 100%. The higher the percent of opacity, the darker the shade of that selected shape. This is a great tool if the user wants to place shapes on top of each other but still wants the underlying shape to be seen.
Gradient
The Gradient feature can most easily be explained as a design tool. When the designer choses to [[#|apply]] a gradient to their shape, it creates a faded effect that continues from one end of the shape to the other. As shown in the screen shot, the gradient starts at the left as light and continues to the right as dark. The direction, color, and intervals can all be changed according to the designers preference.
Citation: http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html
Advances in this technology:
Within every version of the Adobe Illustrator there were multiple improvements and upgrades that were implemented over the years.rasterize, punk, bloat, free distort, layout grid, vertical text tool
gradient mesh, live brushes, links palette
feathering, opacity and layer mask, native [[#|PDF]] support
palette, save for web, live distortion, warping [[#|envelopes]]
effect, columns & rows, optical kerning, optical margins, every-line composer, custom tab
leaders, WYSIWYG font menu, Japanese type support, path type option, save for Micro-
soft Office
control palette, Adobe Bridge support, Wacom tablet support, SVG-t export, PDF/X export
previews, in-palette appearance editing
15.0.2)
meshes, shape builder tool, bristle brush
on a stroke, pattern creator tool, Image Trace
Web Resources:
Illustrator trial download here
12 beginner tutorials for Illustrator here
20 tips for Illustrator here
New update for retina display products here
The history of Illustrator here
Terminology:
Citations/ References:
Graphics:
An example of what Illustrator looks like when it is being used.Citation: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lxyu7vtEKfY/T6-mDeOt88I/AAAAAAAAAF8/OqkSOmNIRb4/s1600/adobe-illustrator-cs4-screenshot.jpg
This is the newest version of Illustrator Cs6
citation: http://0.tqn.com/d/graphicssoft/1/0/b/l/5/ai-CS6-boxshot.jpg